Coin-controlled apparatus



' May 17,1927.

, c. LEA

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed June 15. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 o 000 ooooooooooooooo socoooooooooooo 00000000 0 o 00000000 o 00.009900 0 4; Inveni'or CharZesLea,

' May 17, 1927. 1,628,852

C. LEA

com CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed June 15. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fti'r l. jfi

171112631 1702: CharZesLea,

May 17, 1927.

C. LEA

com CONTROLLED APPARATUS g-"ileq June 15 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6/ V -Inveni7or: Charis-(SL600.

May 17 ,1927. 1,628,852

c. LEA

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed June 15. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 12 00621130?" Charies Lew,

Patented Ma 17, 1927.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC MER- CHANDIZER, INC., 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Application filed June 15,

My invention relates to coin-controlled apparatus, and to vending machines, and particularly but not exclusively to a coincontrolled vendin machine for cans.

My invention Wlll be best understood from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings of a specific embodiment of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, while the scope Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawin ,--I have shown a cabinet or other suitab e reservoir, for.

receiving articles to be vended, which articles areindicated by the cans a although it will be understood of course that my invention is not limited to the vendin of cans. Herein the cabinet comprises a sha low box of sheet metal or other suitable material, and is of a depth ap roximately corresponding to the height 0 the trans. The cabinet is supported by hinges 1, carried by the side wall 30f the cabinet and secured to a plate '5, the latter being adapted to be fastened to a wall or other suitable su When in operation the ca met is swung back against the plate 5-and held in position by means of the lock 7 andthe cooperating keeper 9. The front face of the cabinet is provided with perforations 11 to render the contents of the cabinet visible, while. at the lowermost corner is provided an orifice 13 through which the cans may be mdved when permitted to escape by the coincontrolled apparatus indicated in its entirety at 15.

The articles to be vended, hereinafter referred to as cans, are arranged in the cabinet in stacks, and as shown com artments for four such'stacksare provided y means .of the pairs of wires 17, these wires being arranged vertically in spaced relation an porting means.

1921. Serial No. 477,819.

secured to the upper wall 19 of the box at their upper ends, and at their lower ends to the upper edges of the plates 21, the latter being secured to the front wall 23 of the cabinet. Below the plates is shown a strip 25 of width approximatin the depth of the cabinet, which strip exten s from the wall 3 downwardly to a point spaced from the o posite wall 27 of the cabinet. Below t e strip 25 is shown a second strip 29 which extends from the wall 27 to the bottom wall 31 of the cabinet at a point adjacent the orifice 13. The strips 25 and 29 afford a run-way for guiding the cans from the stacks to the orifice.

Herein for controlling the escape of the cans, is'an arcuate shaped gate 33, of radius approximating that of the cans, the gate having the upper ed e 34 and the lower edge 35, the latter normal y ad'acent the stri 29.

The normal position of t e gate is as 1 lus- I trated by Figs. 2 and 3, in which osition, it will be noted, a can is received by the gate. When thegate is released by the coin controlled mechanism, in a manner hereinafter described, and it is turned in the direction of the arrow shown by Fig. 2, the lower edge '35 of the gate will pass between the two lowermost cans and W111 permit the can received by the gate to roll down the incline 29, where it may be removed through the orifice 13. When the gate is moved back to the position shown by Figs. 2 and 3, a new can moves into the recess afforded by the gate and is in position to be discharged when the gate is again operated.

Preferably I discharge the contents of one stack before starting to discharge the contents of the other stacks. Specifically in the submitted embodiment of my invention I discharge first all the cans of the stack at the extreme left hand side of Fig. 2, and the other stacks in order from left to right. As shown by Fig. 2, the first two stacks have been completely discharged, the third stack has two cans remaining in it, while the fourth stack has been untouched. Herein for securing this result, I provide the members 37, 38' and 39 acting as gates and pivoted to the bottom edges of the plates 21. These members may be formed in any suitable manner, and as shown consist of wires thus formed to swing freely about the fulcrums afforded by the eyes. Each arm 41 is provided with an offset portion 47 adapted to engage the lowermost can of the stack at the right of the lever as viewed by Fig. 2, while the cans at the left of the lever force the portion 47 against said lowermost can. It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the shoulder afforded by the offset portion" 47 of the lever 39 engages the lowermost can of the right hand stack and that a can is resting upon the end of the lever. It will also "be noticed that the offset portions 47 are close to the fulcrum of the lever so that considerable leverage is exerted against the lowermost can in engagementwith the oflset portion. I have found by this arrangement that a single can is sufiicient to hold the lever in position. Referring to Fig. 2, when the last can is removed from the stack shown as .undergoing the discharging operation, the lowermost can of the right hand stack will force the lever 39 upwardly to a position corresponding to that of the lever 38 to permit the cans in'the right hand stack to discharge. The levers '38 and 39 are given an arcuate shape to guide the cans from the stack to the strip. 25, and to insure that the can will always be in engagement with the concave side of the lever at a point more remote from the fulcrum than the offset portion 47. The lower ends of the levers 38 and 39 are of less width than the distance between the eyes 43 in order that when the levers are moved into their elevated position they will pass through the space between the side arms of the lever in front of them and to permit such movement the plates 21 are cut away to provide the recesses 4:9.

The apparatus for operating the gate 33 is adapted to be controlled by the insertion of coins, tokens, and the" like of predetermined characteristics, which hereinafter will be referred to as coins. Herein the apparatus comprises a casing 51 provided with an integral inwardly extending bearing member 52 which rotatably supports a spindle 53 carrying at its end exterior of the casing the operating lever 55 and at its other enda boss 57 made integrally with the plate 59 carrying the gate 33. As shown,

the coin-controlled apparatus is secured to the front wall 23 of the cabinet by means of screws or other fastening members 61 engaging the flange 63 of the casing as shown in Figs. 4; and 5.

As shown, the plate 59 is provided with a flange 65 which, at the upper portion shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is enlarged in height and thickness to provide a head 67 having the squared portions 69 acting as abutments for engaging the stops 71 carried by the casing 55, in order to determine the limit of movement of the gate. The normal position of As shown, the head 67 constitutes a coin-' carrying member, and is provided with a slot 79 normally in alignment with a slot 81 in the casing 55, in order that a coin, indicated at b, may be inserted into said slot 79. The head is further shown as provided with a slot 83 which receives a slide 85 on which the lowermost portion of the edge of the coin b" is adapted to rest. The slide is of a length suflicient to extend from the stop 71 to the end of the slot 79 in the normal position of parts so that when a'coin is inserted it is supported by the slide close to the inner edge thereof.

Herein, ,pi mediate portion thereof, on the post 87 carried by the casing, is a lever 89 having the portion 90 bent to lie parallel to the inner surface of the head 67 and having its upper vot-ally supported, at an inter end edge 91 normally spaced to the left of gages the lever to prevent it from contacting with the head 67. It will be noted by the construction just described a limited movement of the head 67 is permitted before the end of the slide engages the edge 91 of the lever.

Herein on the inner surface of the casing, in line with the slot 81, I secure one end of a flexible plate 95, the plate being bent as shown by Fig. 5 to force the coin b radially inwardly through the slot when the coin is brought into engagement with the plate by rotation of the head 67 Preferably but not necessarily the. extent the plate projects inwardly may be adjusted, and for this purpose I have shown the screw-pin 97 carried by the casin and bearing against the outer side of the plate. After adjusting the plate, the end of the screw-threaded hole recelving the pin may be closed by the plug 99 to prevent tampering with the pin.

The operation of the arts of the coincontrolled apparatus so ar described is as h ca engage the slide 85, under which-condition the lock aflorded by the lever and slide is released and the operator permitted to turn the head far enough to bring the left hand abutment 69 as viewed by Fig. 5 into engagement with the lower stop 71 which will permit a can to be discharged inthe manner hereinbefore described. Release of the handle when the head has been moved to its final position will cause the spring 73 to return the parts to the initial position illustrated by Fig. 5. After the lock is released the coin slides along the upper surface of the lever and falls through the opening 101 of the lever to the bottom of the casing where it falls through the chute 103 intothe cabinet, being received therein under the strip 29. If the handle should be turned without first inserting a coin the head 67 will move to'bring the end of the slide against the edge met the lever and will continue.

to move until the end of the slide opposite that engaged by the lever moves against the wall of the casing to prevent furthermovement.

For insuring that. the operator will move the gate to its .final position after the lock is released I have shown the flange with a series of recesses 105 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 107 pivoted on the end of a post 109 carried by the casing, said pawl having an oppositely extended portion 111 provided with an eye to which is attached the spring 113, the other end of the spring being attached to the end of the lever 89, so that both the lever and the pawl are normally biased to the position shownby Fig. 5 by means of the spring. At diametrically opposite points the flange 65 is cut away to provide openings 115 and 117. The extreme right hand recess 105 is positioned to be engaged by the pawl immediately upon release of the block, which action prevents return movement of the gate until the handle has been turned to cause the pawl to enter the cut-away portion 115 of the flangefthe pawl entering the portion 115 when the lower. stop 71 is engaged by the abutment 69 of'the head. i

It frequently happens that coins, slugs or the like of less than the predetermined size are inserted into the apparatus. Such coins when transferred by movement of the head to' the lever 89 will not be of diameter great enough to cause the cam to move the coin inwardly far enough to disengage the lever 89 from the'slide and when the handle is released such coins will fall through the space between the end of thelever-and the slide and be caught by a chute 119 provided for this purpose and opening through the slot 121 on the faceof the casing 55. Coins discharged through the slot 121 will fall to the floor and it will be noted by these means that a signal is provided for calling to the attention of the custodian of the machine that improper coins are inserted.

For rendering ineflective inserted articles of-magnetic material I herein provide a magnet 123 pivoted by means of a screw 125 to the projection 127 of the bearing member 52, said magnet having the two pole pieces 129 in clo..e proximity to the slot 79 as shown by Figs. 4 and 5. The magnet is biased by" means of the leaf spring 131 to cause it to bear against the edge of the cam flange 77 hereinbefore referred to, which flange causes the magnet to swing about its pivot to draw the article into the dotted position of the coin Z) in Fig. 4 when the coin carrying member is moved through the limited travel permitted by-the lock. This will cause the inserted article to either move off the slide or lever and be caught by the chute 119 and discharge through the slot 121, or when the carrier moves to return to its initial position to fall into the chute through the space between the end of the lever and the slide 83. It will be noticed by these means that I have,

in addition to providing signalling means for calling to the attention of the custodian of the machine that coins, slugs and the like of less than predetermined size have been inserted, provided signalling means for those of magnetic material.

For rendering the discharging mechanism inoperative when the cabinet is empty I may employ a latch in the form of a lever 136 pivoted at 137 to the front wall of the cabinet and provided witha head 138, the latter affording ashoulder 139v which permanently engages the upper edge 34 of the gate 33 when the last can has been discharged; The

upper edge 34 of the gate to lift the lever when a can is present and the gate is to opposite sides 140 and 141'ot' the head are respectively so shaped as to permit the.

tated and to permit a can moving into the H recess afiorded by the gate to lift the lever into its disengaged position as shown by Fig.2. It willbe noted that the shoulder 139 in the position shown by Fig 2 is angularly spaced from the edge 34 so that when the shoulder engages said edge the gate will be positioned slightly clockwise of the position shown by Fig. 2. 'In the position shown by Fig. 2 theslot 81 of the easing and the slot 790)? the head 67 are in have provided a friction joint between the two, in order to prevent forcible turning of the handle from injuring the mechanism of the coin-controlled apparatus. To this end the lever herein is provided with a bore 132 which receives the end of the spindle and on either side of the bore extending therefrom lengthwise of the lever I form the slots 133. The slots render the central portion of the lever flexible to permit-the portions of the lever on opposite sides of the bore and slots to be clamped against the spindle by means of the screws 135.

Although I have described for purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that wide deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Claims.

1. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a movable element, a member carried by said element and movable relatively thereto, a looking member for engaging said first mentioned member and permitting limited movement of said element, said first mentioned member being so constructed and disposed to receive an inserted coin and by such limited movement to transfer said coin to said locking member, means responsive to said limited movement of said element for causing a coin of predetermined size to'efiect disengagement of said members, said limited movement of said element also operative to move said first mentioned member out of coin retaining position when said member engages said locking member, and means for receivingand exposing coins which are ineffective to cause disengagement of said members.

2. Coin-controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element, locking means for said element comprising a locking member and a part for engaging said locking member, said part connected to said element for relative movement, means permitting limited movement of said part relative to said element to permit limited movement of said element when said part is engaged' by said locking member, and means rendered operative'by the presence of a coin for causing said limited movement of said element to effect disengagement of said part and locking member.

Coin-controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element, locking means for said element comprising a locking member and a part for engaging said locking member, said part connected to said element for relative movement, means permitting limited movement of said part relative to said element to permit limited movement of said element when said part is engaged by said locking member, a cam, said element operative to move a coin into engagement with said cam for effecting disen- 'gagement of said part and locking member upon said limited movement of said element.

4. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a movable element, a member carried by said element and movable relatively thereto, a looking member for engaging said first member and permitting limited movement of said element, said first member being so constructed and disposed to receive an inserted coin and by such limited movement to transfer said coin to said locking member, and cam means to cause said coin to release said locking member. I

5. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a movable element, a member carried by said element and-movable relatively thereto, a looking member for engaging said first member and permitting limited movement of said element, said first member being so constructed and disposed to receive an inserted coin and-by such limited movement to transfer said coin to said locking member, and adjustable cam means to cause said coin to release said locking member.

6. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a movable element, a member carried by said element and movable relatively thereto, a locking member for engaging said first member and permitting limited movement of said element, said first member being so constructed and disposed to receive an inserted coin and by such limited movement to transfer said coin to said locking member, and means cooperating with said coin for actuating said locking member to unlocked position.

7. In a coin-controlled apparatus,'a movable element, having a coin retaining member mounted thereon for relative movement a locking member having an opening and having an engaging portion cooperating with said coin retaining member, means for causing an inserted coin to be transferred from said coin retaining member to said locking member to release said locking member to permit movement of said element, and means responsive to such movement for moving said coin to cause it to pass through said opening.

8. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a movable element, a member movable therewith and relatively movable thereto; a locking member for engaging said first mentioned member and normally spaced therefrom, whereby limited movement OfSfild element is permitted; means responsive to such limited movement in one direction to cause an inserted coin to move one of said members to destroythe engagement between them, and means for causing return movement when said coin fails to destroy such engagement to move said coin through the space between said members.

9. A coin-controlled apparatus having, in

combination, a movable element formed for receiving a coin, a coin retaining part movable with said element and movable relative thereto -into and out of coin retaining position, spaced stop members for engaging said part, said stop members permitting limited movement of said element and part and moving said part into and out of coin retaining position, the stop member which moves said part out of coin retaining position being 'movable into and out of engaging position with said part, and means responsive to the limited movement of said element in one direction and rendered operative by the presence of an inserted coin for moving the movable stop member out of engaging position with said part.

10. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a movable element, a member carried thereby and in sliding relation thereto, a locking memcooperating with the first named mem er and permitting a limited movement of said element, means permitting the insertion of a coin for support on said first named member, means for moving said coin to transfer it to said'locking member, and means for moving said coin to move said locking member out of cooperation with said first named member.

11. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a mow able element, a member carried thereby and in slidin relation thereto, a pivoted looking mem er normally cooperatlng with the first named member and permitting a limited movement of said element, means permittin the insertion of a coin for support on sai first named member. means for moving said coin to transfer it to said locking member, and means for moving said coin to move said locking member out of coopera tion with said first named. member;

12. In a coin-controlled ap aratus, a rotatable element, a member sli ably -supported by said member, a pivoted lever having a part in the path of the first named'member and normally spaced therefrom, means permitting the insertion of a coin for support on said first named member, means for moving said coin when said element is rotated to transfer it to said lever, and a cam cooperating with said coin when on said lever for moving the latter out of the path of said first named member.

13. A coin-controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element, locking means for said element com risin a part movable therewith and a 100 ing 0g normally spaced from said part, acoin slot in said element normally closed by said part, a coin chute for guiding coins into said slot.

and magnetic means for deflecting slugs of magnetic material from said chute into the space between said part and said dog.

14. A coin-controlled apparatus having, in combination, amovable element, locking means for said element comprising a part movable therewith and a locking dog nor-- mally spaced from said art, a coin slot in said element normally 0 osed. by said part, a coin chute for guiding coins into said slot, magnetic means for deflecting slugs of mag-- netic. material from said chute into the s acebetween said part and said dog, and s ug exposing means comprising a chute be.- neath-said space. v

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES LEA. 

